Our Cunin/Sigal Award Recipients

The Cunin/Sigal Research Award is made possible by the generosity of Elise and Marlowe Sigal (AB 1952; MBA 1954) through the Cunin/Sigal Research Award Endowment, established in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Harry L. Cunin. The award supports investigations by graduate and advanced undergraduate students engaged in botanical research.

2014

Bryan Connolly is a graduate student in the Brand Lab at the University of Connecticut. Aronia (chokeberry) has low genetic diversity which reduces its ability to adapt to new threats, such as pest outbreaks or changing climates. Bryan is interested in developing new Aronia hybrids to increase genetic diversity by performing crosses with Aronia, Sorbus, and other related genera in the Arboretum collections.